Adhesive applicator



March 20, 1962 Filed June 8, 1959 L. A. VIERTHALER ETAL 3,025,830

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 pmnlimug @GGGQQGQG) INVENTORSZawrenaeA. Wart/Idler 4i AZ 12in 511465 65 wwf wzw ATTO NEYJ March 20,1962 A. VIERTHALER ETAL 3,025,830

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR Filed June 8, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSZdzfll/ZCZA. Vikrt/zaler l Alum/5.1114565 ATTORN ,1

March 20, 1962 A. VIERTHALER ETAL 3,025,830

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 8, 1959 INVENTORS J i mam w MM A .2 WA w 3,025,830 Patented Mar. 20, 1962 3,025,830 ADHESIVEAPPLICATOR Lawrence A. Vierthaler, Box 38, and Alvin E. Mages, both ofSpearville, Kans. Filed June 8, 1959, Ser. No. 818,588 2 Claims. (Cl.118243) This invention relates to adhesive applicators, and moreparticularly for applicators adapted to apply liquid adhesive toselected locations on a surface as in the preparation of snap-out forms.

In the preparation of snap-out forms, the individual sheets of the formsare attached to each other by applying adhesive to various spots alongone edge of the form to join the adjacent layers to each other. Machinesfor performing this operation are generally designed to be operatedcontinuously on a mass production basis,

, and hence are frequently so complex and expensive that they caneconomically be used only by concerns having a large volume of requestsfor forms of this type. Frequently, operators of smaller printing shopsare requested to supply snap-out forms, but because of the relativelysmall volume of this type of business cannot justify the expenditurenecessary to obtain presently available machines for assembling suchforms.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide an adhesiveapplicator for use in the manufacture of snapout forms of a simplifiedyet extremely efficient construction.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved in a construction wherein apair of crank members are mounted upon a shaft for rotation with theshaft. An applicator bar is pivotally supported between the distal endsof the cranks above a table and has its center of gravity located belowits axis of pivotal support. Thus, as the cranks are rotated with theshaft, a vertical side surface of the applicator bar remains in avertical plane. A plurality of vertically extending bores pass throughthe applicator bar at spaced locations. Each of the bores receives arod-like applicator member which is positioned within the bore by meansof a clamped collar engageable with the upper surface of the applicatorbar. The tips of the applicator members project downwardly below thebar. A container for liquid adhesive is located on the table, and adipper plate is pivotally supported for movement on the table. Thedipper bar is coupled to one of the cranks so that movement of theapplicator bar away from a glue applying position elevates the dipperbar from the tank into the path of the applicator tips to place acontrolled charge of liquid adhesive on each tip. Work material to whichthe adhesive is to be applied is located in position to be contacted bythe tips of the applicator members upon rotation of the crank arms inthe opposite direction. Suitable guide means may be located to engagethe applicator bar to be sure that the applicator members remainvertical as they approach the paper. The tip of each applicator memberdeposits a small drop of liquid adhesive upon the surface of the paperat the end of the forward stroke of the cranks. The cranks are thenrotated in the reverse direction to pick up another charge of adhesivefrom the dipper bar.

The members are free to move up and down within the bores of theapplicator bar. Thus, as the stack of paper builds up, the applicatormembers may slide upwardly in their bores to accommodate the increasedheight of the stack.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following specification taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an applicator embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1 taken on theline 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the applicator assembly ofFIG. 1 taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the applicator tipstructure assembly duringa later stage of operation;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of certain parts during onestage of operation; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 at a later stage of operation.

The applicator of the present invention includes a fiat work supportingsurface or table 10 upon which sheets of paper to be assembled intosnap-out forms may be located as adjustable guides.

A shaft 14 is supported from the under surface of table 10 by a pair ofspaced bearing blocks 16, axial movement of shaft 14 relative to thebearing blocks being limited by suitably located stop collars 18 fixedto and rotatable with shaft 14. A pair of angularly aligned cranks 20are clamped to shaft 14 at axially spaced locations for rotation withthe shaft. The conplings between cranks 20 and shaft 14 may take theform of a radially extending notch 22 including concave seating surfacessuch as 24 which are firmly clamped to shaft 14 by means of a nut andbolt assembly 26.

Table 10 is formed with a pair of slots 28 through which the respectivecranks 20 project to locate the distal ends of cranks 20 above thesurface of table 10.

An elongated applicator bar 30 is pivotally supported between the distalends of cranks 20 by means of projecting stub shafts 32 which areloosely received within bores passing through the distal ends of thecranks. Bar 30 is axially positioned between cranks 21) by a pair ofwashers 34, 36 pinned to the left-hand (FIG. 2) stub shaft 32. A spring38 is mounted in compression between washer 36 and the left-hand crank20 to bias washer 34 against the opposite side of the crank.

The axis of rotation of applicator bar 30 about the axis defined byshafts 32 passes above the center of gravity of bar 30, hence bar 30hangs freely between cranks 20 in such a manner that the vertical frontand rear faces of bar 30 tend to remain in a vertical plane as cranks 20are rotated about the axis defined by shaft 14.

Applicator bar 30 is constructed with a plurality of spaced verticallyextending bores such as 40 which pass entirely through the bar atselected locations and are adapted to loosely receive rod-likeapplicator members 42. Each member 42 includes a stop collar 44 having aset screw 46 by means of which stop collar 44 may be clamped to member42 at selected axial positions on the member. As best seen in FIG. 2,the engagement of stop collars 44 with the upper surface of applicatorbar 30 determines the distance which applicator members 42 project belowthe lower surface of bar 30. Because of the relatively loose fit betweenmembers 42 and bores 40, applicator members 42 may move upwardly withrespect to bar 30 quite freely (compare FIGS. 6 and 7).

To assist in controlling movement of applicator members 42 with respectto the fixed parts of the apparatus, an arm 48 which is fixedly securedto one of the subshafts 32 at the outer side of the adjacent crank 20. Aroller 50 rotatably mounted at the outer end of arm 48 rides along thesurface of a guide member 52 fixedly secured to the surface of table 10.The roller engaging surface of guide 52 is generally horizontal alongits upper edge but terminates in a steeply inclined portion 54 alongwhich roller 50 travels as crank 20' moves toward the glue applying endlimit shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The relationship between the path ofmovement of cranks 20 and guide 52 is such that roller 50* isgravitationally maintained in engagement with guide 52.

As best seen in FIG. 4, pivotal movement of arm 20 about the axis ofshaft 14 between the full line and broken line position of FIG. 4 drivesroller 50' along the horizontal upper surface of guide 52 and pivotsapplicator bar 30 and hence applicator members 42 from the verticalposition shown in full line to the inclined position shown in brokenline. As roller 50 passes from the horizontal upper edge of guide 52downwardly along the inclined edge 54, appplicator bar 30 pivots backinto a position Where the applicator tips extend in a verticaldirection. The intermediate tilting action shown in broken line in FIG.4 controls the applicator bar in such a fashion that the tips travel ina substantially vertical direction as they approach the paper forms Fsupported upon table 10.

Shaft 14, and hence cranks 20, are driven from a motor 70 through asuitable mechanical transmission designated schematically at 72 in sucha fashion that continuous rotation of motor 70 oscillates shaft 14 todrive cranks 20 between the generally vertical position shown in FIG. 4and the inclined position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. At the forward limitof each stroke the tips of applicator members 42 contact the surface ofa paper form F to apply a small drop of glue to the form at each pointon the form contacted by an applicator tip. At the opposite limit ofstroke of cranks 20that is the limit shown in FIG. 4 a controlled amountof glue is applied to each tip.

The application of glue to the applicator tips during each cycle ofoscillation of the assembly is accomplished by a dipper bar 56 which issupported at the outer end of a pair of arms 58' fixedly secured to ashaft 60 supported for rotation above the surface of table by a pair ofpillow blocks 62. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 dipper bar 56 takesthe form of an elongated tray having a longitudinal extent encompassingall of applicator members 42 supported in applicator bar 30.

Dipper bar 56 is driven between the full line position of FIG. 4 and thebroken line position of FIG. 4 by a bent link assembly 64 which i fixedto shaft 60 and supports a roller 66 at its outer end in position to becontacted by the rear surface of one of cranks when the crank isgenerally between the full line position of FIG. 4 and the broken lineposition of FIG. 4. Although bent link 64 is shown as being constructedof two members in FIG. 3, the two portions of the link are rigid witheach other and hence act as a single rigid link. As crank 20 is drivenfrom the broken line position of FIG. 4 to the full line position ofFIG. 4, roller 66 engages the rear surface of the crank 20 shown in FIG.3. As the crank moves into the vertical position shown in FIG. 3, roller66 rolls up the rear surface of the crank and rotates shaft 60 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 (clockwise as viewed inFIG. 4) to elevate dipper bar 56 upwardly from the broken line positionin FIG. 4 wherein the dipper bar is immersed within a storage container66 containing a supply of liquid adhesive into the position shown inFIG. 3 and the full line position in FIG. 4. The depth of the tray-likedipper bar 56 thus regulates the amount of liquid adhesive applied tothe tips of applicator member 42.

To summarize the operation of the device, motor 56 is energized to drivecranks 20 between the glue applying position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 andthe glue receiving position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When cranks 20 areat the end limit of rotary movement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tips ofapplicator members 42 contact the uppermost sheet of -a stack of forms Fand apply a small drop of glue to the form at each point contacted bythe tip of an applicator member 42. Each time cranks 20 are returned tothe vertical position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, dipper bar 56 is drivenupwardly from the broken line position of FIG. 4 to the full lineposition to trans fer a small charge of glue or liquid adhesive fromcontainer 68 to the tip of each applicator member. While the assembly isin the glue receiving position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an additionalform F is manually placed upon the stack of forms. As the thickness orheight of the stack builds up, the applicator members are free to slideupwardly within their respective bores 40 in the fashion shown in FIG. 7to accommodate for the increased height of the stack. As the cranks 20are pivoted away from the glue applying position as in FIG. 7, theapplicator members slide freely down through bores 40.

To accommodate for different sized forms or to regulate the number ofspots of glue application to each form, the number and location ofapplicator members 42 supported within applicator bar 30 may be variedat will.

While we have disclosed but a single embodiment of the invention, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosedstructure may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to beconsidered exemplary rather than limiting and the true scope of theinvention is that defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. An applicator for applying liquid adhesive to selected locations on awork material surface comprising a frame adapted to support workmaterial with the surface to which adhesive is supplied being in ahorizontal position, a pair of aligned crank arms each pivotally mountedat one end upon said frame for rotation at spaced locations upon acommon horizontal axis, an elongate applicator bar, means pivotallysupporting said applicator bar between the other ends of said crank armsfor pivotal movement relative to said crank arms about an axis parallelto said common axis, said bar having a plurality of parallel boresextending downwardly therethrough, a rod-like applicator member slidablyreceived in each of said bores and having a tip projecting downwardlybelow said bar, means for simultaneously oscillating said crank armsabout said common axis between a first position wherein said applicatortips engage the surface of work material on said frame and a secondposition wherein said applicator members are spaced from said workmaterial surface, a control arm fixedly coupled at one end to saidapplicator bar and having a guide roller rotatably mounted at its otherend, a stationary guide member on said frame engageable with said guideroller to pivot said bar relative to said crank arms during oscillationof said crank arms to cause the tips of said applicator members to movevertically downwardly throughout the final portion of movement onto saidwork material, and means for applying a predetermined quantity of liquidadhesive to each applicator tip when said tips are in said second:position.

2. An applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for applyingliquid adhesive to said tips comprises References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,371,179 Mendes Mar. 13, 19452,782,756 Hunt Feb. 26, 1957 2,816,755 vDusenbury et a1. Dec. 17, 1957

